April is national poetry month. So, I thought I'd dig into the old (really old) bag of tricks and regale you with some of my past attempts. I'm starting with the very early (very early) stuff, so don't be to harsh in your criticism.

Here is an example of some of the literary genius you will find at least on the first few days:

Big and fat!
Like a rat;
It's fun to guess!
Your [sic] the bes' 
A hog's right!

(age 8)

You will notice that at eight years old and in the third grade I didn't have enough understanding of contractions to know that there was a difference between "your" and "you're".

So, grab some of your third-grade poems and join me in the comments section to celebrate National Poetry Month!

You've seen those SAB comparisons, here are a couple of mine:
 
Charles Stanley,                              Don Knotts,
noted Baptist Preacher                    noted Comedian

 
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.,                         Benjie Potter,
noted writer and agnostic                not so noted Baptist Preacher and writer and avid reader.

We've been having a sneak preview of the Spring that is to come, and it looks pretty nice. This year as we celebrate the first day of Spring, those of us who live in IL are honored to participate in an exercise in futility (aka Presidential primary races). (Pardon my soapbox, you can skip the next few lines if you like.)You have to choose a side--even though you don't like any of the sides--and if your voice is to be heard mark the name of some person whose been harrassing you via mailbox, television and telephone for the last week just so you'll recognize their name. [News flash to politicians: the more you stuff my mailbox, rundown your opponent with slur ads, and robocall my house, the less likely I am to like--let alone vote for--you. Leave us alone, talk about actual issues in the debates (there were MORE than enough of those for the Republican wannabes this year), and let us think. We are, after all, Americans who can think for themselves!] (soapbox over, you can start reading again)

Anyway. According to the people who know (or who think they know everything, at any rate) have informed me that today is the first day of Spring. So, slow down. Pause to smell the coffee. And let the wonder of another day wash over you.

In the midst of the mediocre rehashment of the seventies linked into the better version (Jack Lord style) with clips from an episode guest-starring Ed Asner. Tonight's guest star? Ed Asner!

As you already know, we lost '60s heartthrob and Monkees staple Davy Jones to an apparent heart attack at age 66. He's the Monkee that drove the girls crazy and made playing the tambourine cool for all the guys who couldn't play keyboards, guitars, or drums. Here's a clip from his appearance on The Brady Bunch from which the line "Wow, How 'bout the flipside" always comes to mind.



Oh, Marsha, Marsha, Marsha.

Today's Valentine for my lovely (blushing) Bride is one that I found as Doctor Who fan. As a matter of fact, my kids love the Doctor's version of this little ditty. It is part of the "one-hit wonders" cadre--you know, songs like "American Pie" that really hit it big, but the artist never really got noticed aside from that. This one is the hit of The Proclaimers, and I'm following it up with a re-make by Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman (the video is not me and the Bride, but it's pretty good). For you, My Love--the sentiment is very real. Happy Valentine's Day.

When I wake up yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who wakes up next to you
When I go out yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who goes along with you

If I get drunk yes I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you
And if I haver yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's havering to you

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked 1000 miles
To fall down at your door

When I'm working yes I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's working hard for you
And when the money comes in for the work I'll do
I'll pass almost every penny on to you

When I come home yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who comes back home to you
And if I grow old well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's growing old with you

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked 1000 miles
To fall down at your door

When I'm lonely yes I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man whose lonely without you
When I'm dreaming yes I know I'm gonna dream
Dream about the time when I'm with you.

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked 1000 miles
To fall down at your door

source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/

But the Blushing Bride wanted to catch a few minutes of the Grammies last night, so we turned it on. Caught Tony Bennet's duet - It was pretty good, he should have done a solo. Also, saw the "tribute" to Glen Campbell. Blake Shelton did a superb job with "Southern Nights." It might have been better, though, if Glen had let others tribute him - his "Rhinestone Cowboy" was anything but sparkling. Then the producers kept teasing us that Sir Paul McCartney would be performing a "medley of Beatles songs." We decided to wait it out. Big mistake! Between the tribute to Whitney (which really was excellent, even if a last-minute edit was necessary), and McCartney's show finale, we had to endure two seemingly never-ending assaults on the music business. The techno display with the mock Mickey Mouses was nauseating, and then that other thing--what was that? And they only gave Tony ninety seconds?!? And then when Sir Paul took the stage, the performance was less than advertised (multi-talent guitar montage notwithstanding). Yeah, I'm not a fan of Awards Shows.

Here's another old love poem written more years ago than I can admit. It talks about two lovers who, for whatever reason, are separated for a time. While all the love poems I've ever written are for my Bride and my Lord, I'd like to dedicate this one especially to all those who have to be away from their Love for a season (think "military" who are deployed away from theirs because they are serving us):

Those who know me and my beautiful Blushing Bride know that we credit the Maker for our meeting, our relationship, our marriage, our family and our love for each other. Who but our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, would have such a great sense of the awesome than to draw two hearts together at missionary orientation? Because of that, I think (since we are on the Lord's Day today) the love song today will be our mutual love song to Jesus. Here are the words:

How do you explain, how do you describe
A love that goes from east to west
And runs ad deep as it is wide
You know all our hopes, You know all our fears
Words cannot express the love we feel
But we long for you to hear

Chorus
So listen to our hearts, and hear our spirits sing
A song of praise that flows
From those you have redeemed
We will use the words we know
To tell you what an awesome God You are
Words are not enough to tell You of our love
So listen to our hearts

If words could fall like rain
From these lips of mine
And if I had a thousand years
I would still run out of time
So if you listen to my heart
Every beat would say
Thank you for the life, thank you for the truth
Thank you for the way

Before we begin today's love poem, shall we have a quick lesson? Sonnets are an interesting breed of poem. Here are the basic details:

A sonnet is a poem of fourteen lines with a particular rhyme scheme. These lines are typically arranged in three quatrains and a couplet (though not always). The two major rhyme schemes are attributed to the poets who used them regularly--The Italian (some say Sicilian) Sonnet is commonly called "Petrarchan" and the English Sonnet is best known as "Shakespearean". Any further explanation than that, I would refer you to your favorite English teacher to fill in the blanks.

My point behind all of this is that the epitome of love poems is the sonnet. It isn't necessary for the theme of a sonnet to be about love, but when someone starts spouting a sonnet at you, start with the assumption that they are thinking along the lines of amour. William Shakespeare wrote a mountain of sonnets (many, most, if not all of them spewing love). In his Romantic Tragedy Romeo and Juliet our star-crossed lovers engaged in sonnetation (if it's not a word it ought to be) with their first words to each other. And so, My Blushing Bride, I give you this "kiss" from Shakespeare (I've removed the stage directions to see the beauty of the love poem--you will notice the extra four lines tacked on for the purpose of characterization)(R= Romeo; J= Juliet):

(R) If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

(J) Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.

(R) Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

(J) Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

(R) O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

(J) Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.

(R) Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged.

(J) Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

(R) Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
Give me my sin again.

(J) You kiss by the book.   (Romeo & Juliet, Act I, Scene v.)

Before SCC declared "I Will Be Here"; before Lionel was "Truly"; Leon Patillo was making the wedding altar rounds with a song that was inspired by Scripture: "And Adam said, 'This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.'"(Genesis 2:23) And thus, the fate of Wedding ceremony music (especially for "Church Weddings") was set in motion. And so, My Love, here's another love song - "Flesh of My Flesh":

CHORUS:
You are flesh of my flesh
Bone of my bone
There's no one closer
You are flesh of my flesh
Bone of my bone
We are one

I do pledge my life to you
Forever and always
I will take good care of you
And shower you with praise

Others try and separate us
But they don't have a chance
No one else can take your place
No not even one

CHORUS

I do give my life to you
Today and everyday
I will stand right by your side
Whatever comes our way

I have searched and searched for someone
Who'd make my dreams come true
Nowhere else on this earth
Is there anyone like you

Instrumental

The storms of life can blow and blow
But they won't knock me down
We'll stand the test
The test of time
Cause we stand on Holy ground.
Chorus

Not to be out-done by their mainstream counterparts, Christian artists jumped onto the love song bandwagon, and many of their offerings found their way into the wedding song milieu. Here's a favorite from SCC which he wrote for his Bride, and I would gladly sing for mine:

In the late 1970s and early '80s there were a host of songs from another host of different sources (in both the "Christian" and the not-so-Christian arenas) that made getting married all the rage. Why were so many people rushing to the altar? Because they had to have their favorite romantic song performed by their closest friend who thought they could sing it just like the artist while they wore a white wedding dress or a wide-lapeled, ruffle-shirted, butterfly-bowtied, velvet trimmed, baby blue tux with white shoes. Some of the songs were pretty good anyway. And for today's Valentine installment for my Blushing Bride I dedicate Lionel's offering to the milieu of honey-dripped songs that made their way to many altars with hopeful Brides and Bridegrooms. Truly --

Girl, tell me only this
That I'll have your heart for always
And you want me by your side
Whispering the words I'll always love you

Bridge:
And forever I will be your lover
And I know if you really care
I will always be there

Now I need to tell you this
There's no other love like your love
And I,as long as I live,
I'll give you all the joy
My heart and soul can give

Bridge:
Let me hold you
I need to have you near me
And I feel with you in my arms
This love will last forever

Chorus:
Because I'm truly
Truly in love with you girl
I'm truly head over heels with your love
I need you, and with your love I'm free
And truly,you know you're alright with me

March, 2000. It was the second day of my training at the International Mission Board's training center for overseas workers (they keep changing the name, so I don't know what they call it now). We looked across the crowded room. Our eyes met. (Shall I continue or just get sappier by the minute?)

Actually I did meet my Blushing Bride on the second day of that training. I was headed for a career in Ukraine, and she a two-year term in Egypt. Our friendship blossomed over the next five weeks, and then we went our various ways. Apparently, there was a plan that meant more than overseas service. I had written a love song a few years before--not for anyone in particular, but back in the day when I was a melancholy romantic and wrote love songs (not very good ones, but they suited me). Then I met HER. Then my heart went bump (day-do-ron-ron?).

Anyway, after we decided to get married, I realized that I'd already written a song for this precious woman--a song that was written even before we met. So, Happy Birthday, my Love. Here's your song:

For the next few days, I want to dedicate a these posts to my Blushing Bride. Let me start with Elizabeth Barrett Browning's  famous Sonnet (from the Portuguese) #XLIII:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

I think the word we were looking for was "melancholy" but we settled on "mellow". We were young, and young people have emotional bouts with their feelings and the biology of growing up coursing through them. Inspired by the words of Olivia Newton-John, we would go around our melancholic funk, whining and looking for sympathy.



Well, fellows - I'm mellow.

A couple of weeks ago I discovered that my good friend from college days succumbed to some major medical issues on Christmas Eve. Don had a genuine spirit of humility about him. In his demeanor you could tell that he was one of those friends. You know the kind, they know nothing but love and kindness. It's really interesting that when he graduated the year before me from OBU, I knew we wouldn't see that much of each other. He was scheduled to wed his college fiancee, and move on to seminary in Kansas City. I had another semester to drudge through in undergrad work and was off to Southwestern in Ft. Worth.

When I talked to Don's wife via e-exchange after learning of his death, she reminded me of something--"Do you remember that song you wrote for us when we got married?" As a matter of fact I didn't and then she mentioned it, and I did.Interestingly, I was going through some old writing, thinking about Don, and found the rough draft of the lyric and a copy of the rough melody still in my possession. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to honor my buddy, Don, and his wife (and son) one more time by sharing this poem (no critics please, but if you'd like to comment an encouraging word to the family, I'll be sure they get it). Below you'll find a scan of the rough copy of the original music (and it's really rough).

It's not very long until your graduation day
You'll soon be getting married and moving far away.
Please just remember to keep God in your plans
And then go together walking hand in hand.
Go together in life's tortures
Go together in life's joys
Go together, go together just like good ol' girls and boys.
Go together in the sunshine tho' life sometimes brings you rain
Go together in your happiness and even in your pain.

Then you'll know you're succeeding when your children praise the Lord.
You'll know God has blest you and your smiles they'll afford.
Just remember what I told you when things seem to get rough,
"Go together with each other and your Father up above."
Go together over mountains
Go together 'cross the sea
Go together, go together 'cause that's how it's meant to be.
Go together when you're crying and also when you smile
Go together, go together, go together all the while.

Go Together

Technology, good. Technology, bad.

I like technology. It is good for us, makes things easier and more efficient. The advent of the computer and the Internet has brought about things like spreadsheets that calculate and prepare presentations for us, word processors that check our spelling (beware of over-dependence on spell-check and grammar-check software - some words are missed by spelling checkers because they are words even if we meant another word, and most grammar checking software was written by someone who doesn't really know the rules of proper usage, therefore it will indicate error where there is none and let actual errors get by), e-mail that is faster than the Pony Express, and social networking that helps us re-connect with our past. I personally have reconnected with friends from past days--college, high school, and even as far back a the grade and grammar schools I spent my formative years in. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't even be able to issue this challenge if it weren't for technological advances. Technology is a really good thing.

Even so, technology has its draw-backs. Personal connection has been relegated to cyberspace. We no longer FAX (anybody ever really do that anyway?). Instead we email, text (TXT for the younger audience), and Tweet. While these are great ways to communicate on the fly (because technology includes the faster, more efficient transportation available that has decreased the enormity of our globe), they have taken their toll. We have become lazy. Spelling has become a lost skill because we rely on our spelling checker (see above) or depend totally on our smart phones and Twitter which, out of necessity, has taught us to forgo vowels and substitute single letters or combinations of letters (i.e. "C U l8er") to limit the number of keystrokes in our message.

Handwriting itself has become a thing of the past. There are good and bad sides to this, for instance no longer do I write my sermon notes out longhand and consequently I can read them (which my church members may either thank or curse me for). School children are encouraged to learn keyboarding skills rather than learning to write legibly, spell consistently, or construct sentences coherently.

All of this leads to the lost art of letter-writing. While many are still composing communication for memos, email, and blogs (such as this one), we no longer write letters for the sake of communication. So, here's my challenge: choose a friend, an acquaintance, or perhaps engage the assistance of a new friend from your cyber-friends and start a penpal-type relationship with them. Some of my older readers will remember "penpals" from their grade school days. Two correspondents would get acquainted and learn of their different lives via postal communication. We made lasting friendships, learned of different cultures, and kept up with news in foreign (or at least regionally distant) lands. I am going to choose an old acquaintance, write a letter (by hand), explain my challenge, and see if they would like to participate in the experiment with me. Don't be surprised if you receive letter postmarked "Mulberry Grove" from me. If you get the letter, consider writing back (not via email or other electronic means, but with a letter written by hand).

The headline reads "Twinkies Maker Hostess Files for Chapter 11" (click the link to read the article)

The sad truth of the matter is that Hostess is our go to source for all cakes snackable. CupCakes (not the homemade kind, but those dark chocolate, cream-filled, two-packed--so you can share 'em with a friend--cakes with the hard edible plastic cover that has a white curly design on top), which were followed by the DingDongs, and the HoHo's, and the multiple-flavored Zingers. There are a world of snack cakes out there, and now the maker of the premier ones (not the cheap-o knock-offs from other bakeries) is going belly-up!?

I blame our health-conscious nation, as well as the fast-food industry which turned eating snacks that are calorie-laden into an art form. My wish in all of this is that the shelves so stacked with preservative-filled, taste-bud-tempting treats will not disappear altogether. Why, they last forever, those Twinkies do.

And speaking of "Twinkie Doo", if Hostess goes under, where will we get that last bit of tasty Yum that sticks to the cardboard packaging? You know, that last bit that you scrape off with your finger so that you can get every crumb of the luscious Twinkie?

Snack cake lovers, beware!

By now, if you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I have used the services of Lulu.com to publish some of my short fiction and a couple of sermon collections. Today I received a coupon code for you to use when purchasing any or all of my titles. The neat thing about this coupon is that the offer is for 25% off (up to $50 savings) on your purchase. A couple of things you should note: this offer is for a single purchase (that means you can't use it today and decide to use it again tomorrow or next week, so make your decisions before purchasing), and the offer is good until January 31, 2012--that gives you a couple of weeks to make your selections.

So, click on the Lulu.com logo. Choose as many of my titles as you'd like then enter the coupon code LULUBOOK305 at checkout. Simple as that. Hurry!

Disclaimer: Use coupon code LULUBOOK305 at checkout and receive 25% off your order. The maximum savings with this promotion is $50. You can only use the code once per account, and you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer ends on January 31, 2012 at 11:59 PM PST. While very unlikely Lulu.com reserves the right to change or revoke this offer at anytime, and of course we cannot offer this coupon where it is against the law to do so. Finally, Lulu.com incurs the cost of this discount, so it does not impact the Author's proceeds of the book. This coupon does not work with self-purchases, i.e., if you are the author of the book you are trying to purchase, you cannot use this coupon. This coupon will work for multiple titles but savings cannot go past the maximum of $50.

I text. Mostly to church members and my Beautiful Blushing Bride. But I am not a fan of texting as it is done by the generation who made it up--they have this kookie language that has nothing to do with the rules of genteel spelling and grammar. It almost reminds me of what my Hebrew professor at seminary told me about the original language: "There were originally no vowels, the vowel points were added later by scribes who wanted to preserve the pronunciation."

Well, we're back. Back to no vowels again. I almost wonder why we bothered with them in the first place.

But, I digress. Let's get back to the issue at hand: a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad bag full of abbreviations - ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing), BFF (best friend forever), and the like. One of the most misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misused of the lot is LOL. For the uninformed and uninitiated old people who don't or won't text this acronym does not (nor has it ever) stand for "lots of love." Far from it, this little bit of joy stands for "Laugh (or Laughing, depending on your texting dictionary) Out Loud." It suggests that what ever precedes it is a good and funny joke--forcing one to, well, laugh out loud.

And now for the sad reality of using the LOL - decorum dictates that one should not use LOL for their own comments. This is the equivalent of the comic who laughs at his own jokes (even though they are not really funny jokes at all), or the preacher who constantly has to remind his congregation that he has said something with which they should all agree (can I get an Amen? LOL) So you see, if someone wants to LOL at something you've said it's cool (even if you didn't think you said something funny, because they did), and if you think the preacher has said something with which you agree, give a hearty Amen (you can even start your own corner if you like, preachers like that). But it is bad manners for the preacher to beg for Amens, for the comic to guffaw, or for the texter to LOL at his own posts. If it's funny, others will LOL at you. And if it's really funny they might even ROFL.

Go ahead, you can LOL in the comments section now.

I've long been a fan of Police Drama. I like the mystery (that comes with shows like Columbo) and the police procedures. Understanding that shows like Hunter make us root for the officer who pushes the envelope in order to make the case. Any more, the newer police shows have the tendency to concentrate more on the officer (and his/her life) than the case--turning many of them into prime time soap opera a la NYPD Blue rather than the police procedural, or they concentrate on spinning off the name of another show (Law & Order, et.al.) with little or no connection to the original.


Because I like to read things like the 87th Precinct series, I like my TV Police shows to be well-written. Because I enjoy a well presented stage production, I enjoy the actors in these shows to know their craft. Setting aside my preference for Walker, Texas Ranger (writing and acting both fall short, but there are tons of great fight scenes thanks to Chuck Norris), I don't enjoy too many of the crime shows available for consumption these days. Friday evenings has become the exception, and I just finished watching two of the best examples:

• CSI: NY -- while it is a name-copy series, and they have had some of the character-driven, soap opera-esque story lines, I have found them to be consistently well-written, and with a lead character played by veteran actor Gary Sinese you can't go wrong when you can settle in for an episode.
• Blue Bloods -- I must admit that when it started a couple of seasons ago, I had my doubts. A family full of NY Police officers, headed by the commish himself? Bound to turn into dumpster diving into the tawdry lives of each separate character. Attempts at this very thing have been few and short-lived, because the family consistently focuses on the case. Another concern I had was Donnie Wahlberg in one of the chief roles, and I've been pleasantly surprised. The writers of this series have held to their guns with the character of the characters, the genuine faith of an Irish Catholic family of cops in New York (how's that for stereotyping?), and the commitment to family of the family. Plus you get to see them approach crime from a variety of viewpoints. 

Working on singing a special song in church this coming Sunday and I ran across the background cd for this song (not doing it this week, maybe another time). Anyway, I thought I'd do a quick go-over, and found myself unable to make it all the way through--not even once(t) without bawling like a baby. It speaks to me, maybe it will speak to you today, too:

Happy New Year to all my faithful readers(s).

Bubba had to have a breathing treatment as Christmas Day wound down. Aunt Liz got a video of his demeanor during the process:

Coming to Christmas Day, I wanted to share with you a special rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus. We need to understand that this part of Handel's great oratorio was actually part of the Easter portion of the story. However, it has become one of the traditional parts of many communities' Christmas celebrations. You may click on the links to hear the Silent version of the chorus, or the Mall version. As for the video today, I'm sharing the Young Messiah version featuring Twila Paris (and beginning with the "Worthy Is the Lamb" introduction to the Chorus itself):

I've posted some of 4Him's Christmas music already. Even so, they were able to join in the presentation of Handel's Messiah. Their tight vocal harmony works really well on "The Trumpet Shall Sound"

In the midst of the 1994 tour of the Young Messiah CCM got a taste of their own version of "The Three Tenors". Here are Steve Green, Larnelle Harris, and Michael English sharing "Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs"

Let's pause now for an instrumental in the middle of our Handel-fest, and enjoy "Pastorale" (and no, it's not Kenny G)

I have always been a fan of Larnelle Harris. You might call it "vocal range envy." His version of this portion of Handel's Messiah spotlights that massive vocal range, as well as his incomparable style. Here's Larnelle with "Every Valley":

In drawing close to Christmas Day, I thought my musical gift to you would include portions of G.F. Handel's Messiah.Moving from the classic, I will be posting portions of the "Young Messiah" which was re-packaged and then re-re-packaged and started touring in the Contemporary Christian Music circles in the early nineties.The songs as they appear here will be somewhat out of Handel's original order, but they will get us thinking about the prophecy concerning Messiah all the way to His miraculous birth and purposeful Resurrection. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. We will begin our sampling of the Young Messiah with Matthew Ward singing "Comfort Ye":

You knew that I couldn't get through the Christmas season without a Steven Curtis Chapman song, didn't you? I like so many of his Yuletide offerings like "Christmas Is All in the Heart," his version of some of the old Christmas hymns like "Angels We Have Heard on High," "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!" or "O Come All Ye Faithful." He penned today's song in the mid-1990s telling about how natural a baby the Savior was and how great a Savior this baby is. Here's SC(squared) with "This Baby"

Phillips, Craig, and Dean hit the music scene a number of years ago. Their blend of voices, strong songs about faith, and infectious sense of humor endeared them to audiences everywhere. Today's song is a story. Often people will sing one or two verses, but they miss the whole story when they leave out a verse or two. Listen as the story moves from the sky to the lamb to the boy to the king to the world while PC&D sing "Do You Hear What I Hear"

We continue our Bing-ish salute to Christmas with another collaboration with the Andrews Sisters. Have a good time with "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"

If you haven't seen this flash mob from last Christmas yet, I hope you enjoy it. It falls easily into the category with the Mallelujah Chorus that burned up the Internet last year. This one's a medley telling all about the Christmas story:

While we listen to more of Bing's best Christmas, I debated on whether to post the Carol Richards version or the Rosemary Clooney version. Check out who won the debate as you enjoy "Silver Bells"

As with many of the old stand-bys this song has a little-known intro (that's even missing from today's video). For those of you who are interested here it is:

Christmas makes you feel emotional,
It may bring parties or thoughts devotional,
Whatever happens or what may be
This is what Christmastime means to me . . .

Yes, you heard me right a couple of days ago. I did say that Bing Crosby is Mr. Christmas. Since he bolstered his career on Christmas music and movies, I thought we'd have a little fun over the next few days and hear a few of my favorites. Why don't we start with "Jingle Bells"? When he sings it with the Andrews Sisters it just swings!

And speaking of Scrooge: I wanted to include several of the songs from the musical here (like "Father Christmas" or "I Hate People" or "I Like Life" or "December the 25th"). Even though many people don't include this song on their holiday listening list, they do include the play or the musical in their holiday viewing pleasure. And "Thank You Very (Very, Very) Much"

I make no secret that I not only like Christmas, but I'm a big fan of Charles Dickens' famous tale "A Christmas Carol." I like the redemptive value of a heart steeped in Christmas, and I like many of the re-tellings of that famous story. Some of them have some pretty good music. Take for instance the introduction to the audience of Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol:

[Almost] Everybody and their dog has recorded their version of "The Little Drummer Boy". David Bowie even did a duet with Mr. Christmas himself - Bing Crosby. Modern Christian artists Jars of Clay even released a short album that focused on the song. Based on the legend that became famous with a Rankin/Bass cartoon.The trick with this song is to get the pum-pum-pum-pums right. I think 4Him did an excellent job, what do you think:

Having sheet music is sometimes a horrible thing, and I have the sheet music to today's song. What makes it so horrible for me is that I wanted to find the artist that had the intro as well as the song, it gives the song character:

Over the ground lies a mantel of white
A heaven of diamonds shines down through the night
Two hearts are thrillin' in spite of the chill in the weather . . .

One of the long-standing traditions of the season is Tchaikovsky's ballet, The Nutcracker. The story is superb, and the music is better. One of my favorite pieces from the work is The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. The music is the star, so I'm posting the music. (If you've got to see the dance, I'm posting that, too.)

Yesterday, we had Mary's song. Today I'd like to consider what it might have been like to be Joseph. The biblical record says little more than:

¹⁸Now the birth o Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
 ²³ "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
   and they shall call his name Immanuel"
   (which means, God with us). ²⁴When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (from Matthew 1, ESV)

On the seventh day, I completed the cradle. It would be ready to receive the child the next day, the day of his consecration—his dedication to God. I looked forward to the ceremony. Zechariah made a special point to invite me. He said that he had no other way to repay me for the exquisite bed I had fashioned for his miracle son. I gladly accepted the invitation for it allowed me to be one of the first to see the baby, his mother, and her attendant—Mary.

            After the priests finished with the ritual of circumcision and dedication to God in the custom of Israel, I quickly scanned the faces behind the men. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw her face. Zechariah had spoken the truth. Not only was Mary most radiant among women, not only did her face glow with the beaming smile I remembered, but as I saw her eyes, those eyes that smile into my heart, I could see that she was even more beautiful than my feeble mind could remember.

            And then the crowd moved. Then I saw Mary. I saw her fully. And my world crashed in around me. Truth caved in from her obvious condition. Questions of her fidelity no longer nagged at my mind. One question replaced them all, “Why?”

            Why had that scoundrel Rajeesh, that poor excuse for a man, been right?

            Why had Mary betrayed me? She could not hide the fact that her time to deliver the baby drew near.

Why? Oh, why had I not seen it before? I had loved the young woman before me. This woman who now was obviously bearing a child. I had thought that she loved me as well. I wanted to be angry, but I still loved her. I turned and walked away. I must pray; I must decide what to do. My wife, my very life, had betrayed me. She had betrayed our vows. She had betrayed God.

            I could not stay in the house of Zechariah that night. He had known. He must have known. But instead of telling me, instead of warning me, he said, “She is the most radiant of women. Count the blessings of the Lord God.” And then he returned to the tale of the angelic visit announcing the birth of John.

            I left Jerusalem and slept on the side of the road that night. Tears filled my eyes as I laid down. I had made my decision. I could not bear to keep Mary as my wife; she had been unfaithful. No one even mentioned that she had been attacked on the road to Jerusalem. She even seemed to be happy to be having a baby—a baby that I knew was not my own. No, she could not remain my wife. She had defiled herself before man and before God.

            Neither could I hurt her. Yes, she was no longer the pure woman I had known at our betrothal just months before. But still my heart ached with love for her, a love I knew could never die. I had decided. I would divorce her. But I would do it quietly. I would find a way to keep her from having the disgrace of her unfaithfulness heaped upon her by a noisy public divorce. I would quietly go to her father. We would work out some way to keep Mary’s sin from being further broadcast by the likes of Rajeesh and even my friend Hoshea. It could be done. And I would make it my last act of love for her.

            I wept bitterly as I made my final decision. The only solution that satisfied my dilemma also bored deeply into my heart of love for Mary. Sleep born only of exhaustion overtook me, and I dreamed. I dreamed a dream like none I had ever dreamt before. Nor have I ever dreamt a dream like it since. I dreamt an angel.

From the very first Christmas, Mary has been singing songs. Luke records the Magnificat for us:

⁴⁶And Mary said,

   ^"My soul magnifies the Lord,
 ⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
   For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
⁵⁰And his mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
⁵²he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and the rich he has sent away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever." (from Luke 2, ESV)

All of the children were in the Christmas program @ MGES this year. Here are a few of the selections-- (1) starring Little Bit; (2) featuring Bubba; and (3) the whole school (K-6). [Sorry, I didn't get the camera set right to feature Puddin' N Pie's class by herself.]

Just like Ebenezer Scrooge, what Christmas celebration is complete without seeing the heart transformation of the great green who who lived above Whoville? Please click on the link below to enjoy "Mister Grinch":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzXKWKaxt3c

(Sorry, couldn't embed this one, but it's the best of the versions out there.) For those who have to have an embedded video, try this version (I do like SNC):

For a quick pause from our Christmas music, I'd like to share a couple of videos with you. You see, Bubba had a birthday recently and one of his gifts was a real treat. To introduce this gift, I want to share David Gates and Bread's version of "Guitar Man"



And  now for the REAL Guitar Man:

I know that there are words (see below), but there is just something about the instrumental version (especially by some city's "pops") that makes this song fun. For my comrades in arms from the old Mighty Maroon Band from Skeeterland days, you will remember the year that none of the trumpeters in the Concert Band (second string) seemed to be up to the task of the "neigh" at the end, so Lela did the honors.

Concerning today's video of the Boston Pops: watch for the guy with the slapstick--he seems to be having fun. Also watch the director (John Williams), he seems to be having more than his share of fun with this number (and like most band/orchestra directors, he's 'pom-pomming' right along with the music, even to the last note). Hope you like "Sleigh Ride" as much as I do:

Sleigh Ride

Christmas would not be complete without Jose. In this rendition, he's getting a little old and seems to forget the words from time to time (which is hard to believe no more words than there are), but he is singing in two languages. Feel free to sing along:

Yes, the movie is great, and Bing is the "go to" singer for songs like "White Christmas," but there is something endearing about the Drifters version. I first discovered this on the end of a cassette tape I'd gotten so that I could have a copy of "Under the Boardwalk". Enjoy -- "White Christmas" by the Drifters:



And since you asked, here's Bing's version:

When some songs get mainstream exposure, they get snatched up and re-recorded by everyone and their dog. Today's song is one of those. It's been reinterpreted by artists as wideflung (sure it's a word, and if it's not it ought to be) as Kenny Rogers, Donny Osmond, and Kutless. But I believe that it is best handled by the writers. So here (ignore Bill Gaither if you can) are Mark Lowry (words) and Buddy Greene (music) singing "Mary Did You Know?"

Today is Bubba's birthday - He is a Star Wars/Transformer fiend--actually anything with laser weapons or mechanical men or aliens will do.

Bubba, pictured here with Puddin 'n Pie and Lincoln (Photo taken earlier this year in Vandalia, IL)

Being the child of the '70s that I am (born in the sixties, but formed most of my opinions in the next decade), no one singer says, "Christmas," to me more than the be-dimpled Evie. I must admit that I'm tempted to post a week's worth of Evie Christmas Tunes--but I'll spare those of you who think that's too much syrup. Instead, I hope you enjoy this version of "Mary's Boychild":

Well, maybe you don't love them, but I do. And to celebrate the Holiday Season, I'm going to try to post a Christmas song a day. Some will be fun, others serious, all will be about Christmas, and I hope you enjoy them all.

I'll start with one that I haven't grown tired of since I discovered it three years ago (in fact, I've posted it every Christmas, but you don't have to search through the archives because I'm posting it again here). It makes sense to start down this musical countdown to Christmas with a Christmas counting song. From Straight No Chaser -- "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (from their college days):



And just for fun, here they are ten years later: